Puffed cannabis flower extrusion process

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of the present technology may provide a method of manufacturing a vaporizable product for use in an atomizer. The method may include grinding a vaporizable material and generating a paste utilizing the ground vaporizable material. The method may further include extruding the paste to form the vaporizable product.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/148,671, filed on Feb. 12, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION State of the Art

“Vape” devices and heat-not-burn (HNB) devices (collectively, “vaporizer devices”) present an alternative to smoking and work by vaporizing a consumable vaporizable product by heating the vaporizable product at a lower temperature than an open flame so that a user can inhale the vaporizable product in vapor form, rather than smoke.

An atomizer of a vaporizer device typically has a chamber for holding the vaporizable product and a small, heated coil, in contact with the chamber. A current is typically passed through the coil, heating the chamber and the vaporizable product contained therein. Conventional forms of vaporizable product include flower, concentrates, oils, etc. However, conventional forms of vaporizable product have a gradual and slower rate of vaporization and do not efficiently release various active ingredients, such as cannabinoids, contained in the vaporizable product.

Accordingly, what is needed is consumable form of vaporizable product that efficiently releases various active ingredients contained in the vaporizable product, provides higher yields and a more immediate release of the active ingredients, and improves thermal conductivity and heating efficiency as well as sensory experiences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the present technology may provide a method of manufacturing a vaporizable product for use in an atomizer. The method may comprise grinding a vaporizable material and generating a paste utilizing the ground vaporizable material. The method may further comprise extruding the paste to form the vaporizable product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present technology may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the following illustrative FIGURE.

FIG. 1 representatively illustrates a flow diagram for pretreating an atomizer in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present technology may be described in terms of functional block components. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of components configured to perform the specified functions and achieve the various results. For example, the present technology may employ various aerosol-forming mixtures, atomizers, binding agents, chambers, conductive agents, dies, extruders, heating elements, molds, mixtures, solutions, vaporizable materials, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions. In addition, the present technology may be practiced in conjunction with any number of vaporizer devices, and the vaporizable product described herein is merely one exemplary application for the technology.

According to various embodiments, a vaporizable product (not shown) may be inserted into a chamber (not shown) disposed within an atomizer (not shown) of a “vape device” or heat-not-burn (HNB) device (the “vaporizer device” (not shown)). The vaporizable product (not shown) may comprise a vaporizable material, such as cannabis flower or tobacco flower, a binding agent, and a conductive agent. A heating element (not shown) may be in contact with the chamber (not shown) and may heat the vaporizable product (not shown) to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the vaporizable material. The heating element (not shown) may be suitably configured to transfer heat to the vaporizable material in any suitable manner, such as via conduction, convection, induction, and the like.

The binding agent may comprise any suitable aerosol-forming agent, such as vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG), or the like. Specifically, the binding agent may facilitate the formation of steam inside the chamber (not shown) by lowering the boiling point of the vaporizable material to enhance the release of desired active compounds such as terpenes and cannabinoids into vapor generated by the vaporizer device (not shown). Because the boiling point of the vaporizable material may be lowered and the thermal conducting properties improved, the vaporizable material, along with the vaporizer device (not shown), may be less prone to overheating. Accordingly, the vaporizable material may be less prone to experiencing thermal degradations, i.e., molecular deterioration as a result of overheating, thereby effectively activating various compounds within the vaporizable material to provide improved flavors and aromas. For example, a mixture of ground flower and glycerin may comprise (by weight) 10-50% glycerin or (by weight) 10-50% glycerin and water. The ratio of the glycerin to water may comprise any suitable ratio, such as any ratio in the range of 5:1 to 2:1.

In addition, the vaporizable product (not shown) may be molded into a variety of suitable shapes and sizes to fit inside the chamber (not shown). For example, the vaporizable product (not shown) may comprise a cylindrical-shaped body or the like. Specifically, when the vaporizable product (not shown) is molded to fit inside the chamber (not shown), whether in pre-roll form (not shown) or the like, and then heated, the user may experience the benefits of steam distillation, enhanced aerosol formation, and efficient thermal conductivity or heat capacity. Specifically, steam distillation may be used to extract essential oils or flavors from the vaporizable material, and the glycerin may facilitate aerosol formation and enhance the sensory experience for the user by providing an improved vapor body, aerosol visibility, and mouth feel. As discussed in paragraph 0009 of this Application, water and glycerin have a higher heat capacity than air and may transfer the thermal energy and heat to the vaporizable material more efficiently.

The binding agent may also be utilized to adjust a variety of active ingredient concentrations in the aerosol and/or vapor to meet a variety of sensory and user preferences. For example, in the case where the vaporizable material is cannabis flower, the binding agent may be utilized to dilute or concentrate a variety of lipophilic, cannabinoid-derived compounds found in the cannabis flower, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabigerol (CBG)), thereby bringing out pleasant flavors and aromas of the cannabis flower.

The conductive agent may comprise any suitable thermally and/or electrically conductive material, such as aluminum nitride, carbon nanotube, or the like. Because the conductive agent may have a higher heat capacity than the air inside the chamber (not shown), the vaporizable product (not shown) may be effective in transmitting the heat produced by the heating element (not shown), in the form of thermal energy, to the vaporizable material contained therein.

The porosity, shape, stiffness, and conductivity of the vaporizable product may be adjusted to enhance the vaporization rate of the vaporizable material contained therein. Specifically, the porosity, shape, stiffness, and conductivity of the vaporizable product may work in synergy to allow a larger aerosol mass to be delivered per puff with reduced risks of thermal breakdown of various aerosol agents and flavor compounds contained in the vaporizable material. For example, in the case where the vaporizable material is cannabis flower, the porosity of the vaporizable product may be adjusted to allow a larger aerosol mass and a more immediate release of cannabinoids than conventional forms of vaporizable product. Further, because the vaporization rate and efficiency of the vaporizable product may be increased, the vaporizer device (not shown) may consequently conserve a greater amount of total energy. Accordingly, a user may utilize the vaporizer device (not shown) numerous times before having to change or recharge a battery (not shown) of the vaporizer device (not shown).

In operation, and referring now to FIG. 1, manufacturing the vaporizable product (not shown) (100) may comprise cooling the vaporizable material. After the vaporizable material is cooled, manufacturing the vaporizable product may comprise grinding the vaporizable material (105). Specifically, the vaporizable material may be ground to a desired particle size. In addition, manufacturing the vaporizable product (not shown) may comprise forming a paste utilizing the ground vaporizable material (110). Specifically, the ground vaporizable material may be treated with water, a binding agent, such as vegetable glycerin (VG), and a conductive agent, such as aluminum nitride. The treated vaporizable material may then be mixed together to form the paste. Manufacturing the vaporizable product (not shown) may further comprise extruding the paste to form the vaporizable product (not shown) (115). The paste may be extruded utilizing any suitable extruder machine. Extruding the paste may comprise applying heat to the paste and then pressurizing the paste to pass the paste through a mold, such as a die. During the extrusion process, the porosity of the paste may be adjusted to a desired level by varying the temperature and pressure inside of the extruder machine. As an example, the temperature range may be between about 50 degrees Celsius and about 200 degrees Celsius, and the pressure range may be between about 1 bar and about 15 bar. After the paste is passed through the mold, the extruded paste may be cut to form the vaporizable product (not shown) having a desired shape and size.

Once the vaporizable product (not shown) is formed, it may be utilized by a user and inserted into the chamber (not shown) of the atomizer (not shown). The user may then turn on the vaporizer device (not shown) so that the battery (not shown) may supply power to the heating element (not shown), which in turn may generate heat. Because the heating element (not shown) may be in contact with the chamber (not shown), the generated heat may be transferred to the chamber (not shown). Accordingly, the heating element (not shown) may vaporize the vaporizable product (not shown) by heating the chamber (not shown) to a temperature sufficient to generate the vapor. Once the vapor is produced, it may mix with air drawn into the atomizer (not shown) via an inlet (not shown), and the resulting aerosol (vapor and airflow) may travel as an aerosol stream along an airflow path (not shown) where it may be expelled via an outlet (not shown) and inhaled through a mouthpiece (not shown) of the vaporizer device (not shown).

The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative of the technology and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present technology in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional manufacturing, connection, preparation, and other functional aspects of the system and/or method may not be described in detail.

In the foregoing description, the technology has been described with reference to specific embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the present technology as set forth. The description and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative manner, rather than a restrictive one and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present technology. Accordingly, the scope of the technology should be determined by the generic embodiments described and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the specific examples described above.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments. Any benefit, advantage, solution to problems or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or to become more pronounced, however, is not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component.

The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition, or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used in the practice of the present technology, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied, or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.

The present technology has been described above with reference to an embodiment. However, changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope of the present technology. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present technology. 

1. A method of manufacturing a vaporizable product for use in an atomizer, comprising: grinding a vaporizable material; forming a paste utilizing the ground vaporizable material; and extruding the paste to form the vaporizable product.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling the vaporizable material prior to grinding the vaporizable material.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the paste comprises treating the ground vaporizable material with water, a binding agent, a conductive agent, or a combination thereof.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein extruding the paste comprises: applying heat to the paste; adjusting a porosity of the paste; applying pressure to the paste to pass the paste through a mold; and cutting the extruded paste.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the binding agent comprises at least one of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the conductive agent comprises at least one of aluminum nitride and carbon nanotube. 